POWER BOARDS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 124, 23 February 1928, Page 8

POWER BOARDS

SECRETARIES CONFER ’J’lio annual conference cf secretaries and executive officers of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities Association of New Zealand opened in the City Council Chamber yesterday morning, when the chairman (Mr. C. Campbell) presided over a large attendance of delegates from all parts of both islands. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. G. A. Troup), in extending a welcome to the delegates, said he understood that there were now some 48 electrical installations in the Dominion. We were living, he said, in what would be known as the electrical age. We were only on the verge of possibilities of electricity. ‘‘You can understand,” remarked the .Mayor with a smile, ‘‘the disabilities we ordinary laymen experience when the lights go out.” This, he declared, was a serious matter, which might entail serious consequences. New Zealand was in the forefront of national supplies of electricity. The fact that 110 per cent, of the peojile of New Zealand were supplied with electric light and power was a record which could not be pointed to by any other country. lie thought the Wellington City Council had done a wise thing in establishing a steam electrical plant in the city. This had served the city well, and they were satisfied it would serve them even better in the future. On the Wrong Side. -Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P., president of the Power Boards’ Association, in opening the conference, said that the shortage of power at Mangahao would mean that many boards this year would Hnd themselves on the wrong side of the ledger through no fault, of their own. Legislation would bo required to meet the situation. In the afternoon, the Chief Electrical Engineer of the Hydro-Electric Branch of the Public Works Department briefly addressed the delegates. Speaking by and large, said Mr. Kissel], he thought that the estimates which had been made of the Dominion’s electrical requirements had been fairly accurate. He thought it might be a good idea if the secretaries, engineers, and members of power boards throughout the Dominion should meet at the one time, with perhaps sectional conferences. This would make for economy, and avoid a good deal of the overlapping which now took place. He and the officers of his Department would be only too willing at all times to assist them in their deliberations. Interesting papers wore read during the day by Mr. H. F. Toogood. chairman of the Engineers’ Association, on “The Growth of Load,” and by Mr. C. Dash (South Canterbury) on "X Letter From New Zealand to Overseas Electrical Journals.”